SUPPORT A MORATORIUM ON THE CULL OF ALBERTA WILD HORSES

I hope that everyone notes this same story is being played out all over the world. The petition to stop the culling of the less than 1,000 wild horses remaining in Alberta, Canada needs signatures. We’re asking our readers to help out and sign this:

It is believed that there are blood lines in the wild horses, dating back to the Spanish Barb, or even ancient blood lines. If those rare blood lines are removed indiscriminately in a cull, they will be lost forever. Canada and the world will lose a unique heritage animal. Biologists, photographers, tourists and future generations will lose the opportunity to study and experience these rare wild horses (often referred to as Wildies).

According to the Alberta government there’s less than 1000 horses remaining, in an area of 8500 sq km. Despite these low numbers, they claim there are too many horses competing with the much larger cattle and forestry industries on Crown land. The government manages them via an annual capture and cull process which separates family units, weakens the herds and further threatens their survival. Imagine the fear these wild horses experience during their capture, transport and slaughter.

An icon of the Canadian west, these beautiful horses played an important role in the settlement of this country. They helped the First Nations as well as the RCMP. During the great World War, many were rounded up to serve alongside our Military, and never returned home. Portrayed in numerous movies, books, songs, paintings, photography and TV, they are a beloved part of our history, past, present and future.

As a concerned citizen, I’m writing to urge you to support a moratorium on the cull of Alberta’s wild horses. Annually the ESRD (Environment & Sustainable Resource Department) has a capture program on Crown land under the Stray Act.

Please seriously consider the value these magnificent horses have as a tourist attraction. They’ve been here for centuries, it’s believed they have rare blood lines of the Spanish Barb, and they’re a unique Alberta icon. Like the wild horses of Sable Island and Namib, Alberta’s are gaining global interest and attention. Canada’s Sable Island wild horses generate economic income from the many conservationists, artists, biologists and general public who make the costly trip to see, study and photograph them. On the other hand, Alberta’s wild horses are captured and most are sent to slaughter, a decision heavily influenced by the cattle and forestry industry.

Will you support a moratorium on the annual capture and cull of Alberta’s wild horses? They’ve earned their right to live with their herds in their natural habitat and to be protected.

Reader Comment
These animals who coexist with other species, who have been shaped by natural selection for countless horse generations, deserve to be left alone without being harassed, brutalized or captured just to earn somebody a few bucks. I’d like to think that as a society, we can do better than that, even if our government is trying to convince us otherwise. It is up to us to prove it wrong.
Claudia Notzke, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
International Management Program
Faculty of Management
University of Lethbridge

Each of us can petition U.S.D.A. Sectretary Tom Vilsack and DOI Secretary Sally Jewell/FWS Director Dan Ashe and tell each of them that we can no longer live with the scientifically unsound classification of Equus caballus, Equus a sinus, and Equus bruchellis as alien, invasive pests (of plants) to be prevented, controlled and eradicated through genetic collapse, slaughter, exclusion, vaccines, gun short, PZP. The 23 is the deadline for submitting rules to the USDA regarding horse slaughter.